Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
17:14
Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging
Published on: October 9, 2012
Chemical solutions in a quantum solvent: anionic electrolytes in 4He nanodroplets
Emanuele Coccia1, Fabio Marinetti, Enrico Bodo
1Department of Chemistry and CNISM, University of Rome La Sapienza, Piazzale A. Moro, 00185 Rome, Italy. .
Summary
Anionic electrolytes like F(-), Cl(-), Br(-), and I(-) form liquid-like quantum "bubbles" in helium-4. This contrasts with cations, showing unique solvation behavior for anions in quantum solvents.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Chemistry
- Computational Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Anionic species in helium-4 present unique solvation challenges.
- Understanding solvation behavior is key to predicting electrolyte properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate solvation of halogen anions (F, Cl, Br, I) in helium-4.
- Characterize the quantum fluid behavior around these anions.
Main Methods:
- Variational and diffusion Monte Carlo (VMC and DMC) calculations.
- Utilized accurate ab initio data for two-body interactions and sum-of-potentials approximation.
- Employed a robust computational scheme for high-quality trial wavefunctions.
Main Results:
- Observed significant delocalization and liquid-like quantum features of helium-4 around anions.
- Anion solvation differs markedly from cation behavior in helium nanodroplets.
- Halogen anions form species-dependent liquid-like solvent "bubbles".
Conclusions:
- Halogen anions are stably solvated in helium-4, forming distinct quantum fluid structures.
- The solvation mechanism highlights the unique interactions between anions and quantum solvents.
- Results contrast with known repulsive interactions for other anions like H(-) in helium.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:12Solvents
A solvent is a substance, most often a liquid, that can dissolve other substances. Here, the substance being dissolved is called a solute. When a solvent and a solute combine, they form a solution - a homogenous mixture of both the solvent and the solute. Water is a universal biological solvent. Its polar structure allows it to dissolve many other polar compounds. The ability of water to dissolve is governed by a balance between water molecules binding to each other and binding to the solute.
A...
A...
03:13Intermolecular Forces
Atoms and molecules interact through bonds (or forces): intramolecular and intermolecular. The forces are electrostatic as they arise from interactions (attractive or repulsive) between charged species (permanent, partial, or temporary charges) and exist with varying strengths between ions, polar, nonpolar, and neutral molecules. The different types of intermolecular forces are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion; among these, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion...
02:42Aqueous Solutions and Heats of Hydration
Water and other polar molecules are attracted to ions. The electrostatic attraction between an ion and a molecule with a dipole is called an ion-dipole attraction. These attractions play an important role in the dissolution of ionic compounds in water.
When ionic compounds dissolve in water, the ions in the solid separate and disperse uniformly throughout the solution because water molecules surround and solvate the ions, reducing the strong electrostatic forces between them. This process...
When ionic compounds dissolve in water, the ions in the solid separate and disperse uniformly throughout the solution because water molecules surround and solvate the ions, reducing the strong electrostatic forces between them. This process...
01:23Theory of Strong Electrolytes
The interionic forces of the strong electrolytes depend on the solvent's dielectric constant, which is the ability of a solvent to store electrical energy, based on its polarizability. and the solution's concentration. In high-dielectric solvents and in dilute solutions, weak electrostatic forces keep ions apart. However, in low-dielectric solvents or concentrated solutions, stronger interionic forces may cause ions to pair up as ionic doublets despite being fully ionized. The theory of strong...
02:21Electrolyte and Nonelectrolyte Solutions
Substances that undergo either a physical or a chemical change in solution to yield ions that can conduct electricity are called electrolytes. If a substance yields ions in solution, that is, if the compound undergoes 100% dissociation, then the substance is a strong electrolyte. Complete dissociation is indicated by a single forward arrow. For example, water-soluble ionic compounds like sodium chloride dissociate into sodium cations and chloride anions in aqueous solution.
02:28Intermolecular Forces in Solutions
The formation of a solution is an example of a spontaneous process, a process that occurs under specified conditions without energy from some external source.
When the strengths of the intermolecular forces of attraction between solute and solvent species in a solution are no different than those present in the separated components, the solution is formed with no accompanying energy change. Such a solution is called an ideal solution. A mixture of ideal gases (or gases such as helium and argon,...
When the strengths of the intermolecular forces of attraction between solute and solvent species in a solution are no different than those present in the separated components, the solution is formed with no accompanying energy change. Such a solution is called an ideal solution. A mixture of ideal gases (or gases such as helium and argon,...